'In Venice, Othello the great general has married Desdemona.
'The wedding was secret, only a few friends.
'Among them, his officer lago
I do hale him as I hale hell's pains.
'Oh, you are well-tun'd now
But I'll set down the pegs that make this music as honest as I am. '
Signor Brabantiol Hol Awake!
- What is the matter there? - Look to your house, your daughter.
Even now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your while ewe.
Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs!
Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you against the general enemy.
You must hen tonight.
Oh, my daughter is abus'dl Stolen from me!
And corrupted by witchcraft and medicines.
What n you say to this?
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, it is most true;
True, I have married her.
This only is the witchcraft I have used.
Her father loved me, oft invited me;
Still queslion'd me the story of my life.
She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd.
And I lov'd her that she did pity them.
I think this tale would win my daughter too.
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has div'd her father and may thee.
My life upon her faith.
It nnol be that Desdemona...
'There was a young man, Roderigo was his name,
'who longed to creep into Desdemona's bed. '
I have told thee often, I hate the Moor.
If thou nsl cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure
And me a sport!
'They sailed to secure the garrison at Cyprus
'but a violent storm brolue up the ﬂeet.
'The first vessel safely into harbour rried Cassie,
'a young officer Othello had promoted over lago.
'Then me lago with his wife Emilia, who was Desdemona's maid.
'And the ever hopeful Roderigo. '
O, behold, the riches of the ship is me ashore.
Hail to thee, lady.
With as little a web as this
Will I ensnare as great a ﬂy as Cassie.
What tidings n you tell me of my lord?
He is not
Sir, would she give you so much of her lips
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you'd have enough.
Alas, she has no speech.
I know! Too much.
You are pictures out of doors;
Wildcats in your kitchens, devils being offended.
A sail! A sail!
Lo, where he mes.
O, my fair warrior.
My dear Othello.
Lieutenant Cassie tonight watches on the court of guard.
First I must tell thee this -
Desdemona is directly in love with him.
I nnort believe that in her; she's full of most bless'd condition.
Bless'd pudding!
Do you find some ion to anger Cassie
He's rash and haply may strike at you.
So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires.
Welcome, lago. We must to the watch.
Oh, not this hour, Lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine.
Not tonight swd lano-
I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking.
But one cup!
If I n fasten but one cup upon him
He'll be as full of quarrel and of fence as my young mistress' dog.
Hold for your lives!
Cassie, I love thee
But nevermore be oﬂir of mine.
Oh, I have lost the immortal part of myself -
My reputation, lago.
MY rfipuhllion.
Come, me. I'll tell you what you shall do.
Our general's wife is now the general.
Confess yourself freely to her, importune her.
She'll help to put you in your place again.
You advise me well. Good night...
Honest lago!
For whiles this honest fool plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear
That she repeals him for her body's lust
So will I tum her virtue into piich
And out of her own goodness malue the net that shall enmesh them all.
Be thou assur'd, good Cassie, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf.
- Therefore be merry, Cassie. - Madam, here mes my lord.
Madam, I'll take my leave.
Hal I lilm not that.
- What dost thou say? - Nothing.
Was not that Cassie that parted from my wife?
Cassie, my lord? No. Sure I nnol think it
That he would steal away so guilty-like, seeing you ming.
I do believe 'Mas he.
- Is he not honest? - My lord, for aught I know.
I know thou art full of honesty and weighest thy words.
Thou dost mean something.
O, beware jealousy, my lord.
It is the green-eyed monster.
Farewell. if more dost thou perceive, let me know more.
Excellent wrelch.
Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee.
And when I love thee not
Chaos is me again.
- Good love, ll him back. - Who is't you mean?
Why, your lieutenant Cassie.
Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Shall't be tonight at supper?
- Not tonight. - Then tomorrow night.
I do beseech thee to leave me but a little by myself.
- Are you not well? - I... have a pain upon my forehead here.
Lei me but bind your head. Within this hour it will be well again.
Your napkin is too little. Let it alone!
This mas her first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times wooed me to steal it.
But she so loves the token.
What will you give me now for that handkerchief?
Give it to me!
I will in Cassie's lodging lose this napkin and let him find it.
Triﬂes light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ;
This may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison.
Look where he mes.
Not poppy nor mandragora
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owdsl yesterday.
Oh!
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore! Woe upon thy life!
O, gragg.
O, heaven, defend me. Take note, take note, O, world
To be direct and honest is not safe.
Nay. WY-
Give me a living reason that she is disloyal.
I do not like the oﬂi but I will go on.
I lay with Cassie lately. In sleep I heard him say, 'Sweet Desdemona,
'Let us be wary, let us hide our loves. '
O, monstrous. Monstrous!
- Nay, this was but his dream. - I'll tear her all to pi.
Nay, yet be wise. She may be honest yet.
Have you not seen a handkerchief spolted with strawberries in your wife's hand?
I gave her such a one. 'Twas my first gift.
I know not that. But such a handkerchief -
I'm sure it was your wife's - did I today see Cassie wipe his beard with.
O, blood, lago! Blood!
Within these three days, let me hear thee say that Caseio is not alive.
My friend is dead.
'Tis done as you request.
But let her live.
Damn her, lewd minx.
Come. Go with me apart.
Now art thou my lieutenant.
I am your own forever.
Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?
I know not, madam.
How is't with you, my lord?
I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me.
- Lend me thy handkerchief. - Here, my lord.
That which I gave you.
I have it not about me.
That is a fault.
That handkerchief did an Egyptian to my mother give.
There's magic in the web of it.
Then would to God that I had never seen it.
Is't lost? Is't gone?
Heaven bless us!
This is a trick to put me from my suit.
Pray you, let Cassie be receiv'd again.
Fetch me that handherchieﬂ
- I pray, talk me of Cassie. - The handherchieﬂ
'Bian, not Desdemona, was Cassie's love. '
What hath he said?
Faith, that he did...
- I know not what he did. - But what?
- Lie. - With her?
With her, on her, what you will.
Lie with her?
Lie on her?
Handkerchief - nfessions.
Handkerchief. Is't possible?
O, devil!
How is it, General?
Whilst you were here, mad with grief, Cassie me hither.
I shifted him away, bade him anon relum and here speak with me.
Do but encave yourself for I will make him tell the tale anew
Whom, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He has and is again to cope your wife.
Will you withdraw?
Now will I question Cassie of Bian.
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad.
I never knew a woman love man so.
Alas, poor rogue. I think I' faith she loves me.
She hangs and lolls and weeps upon me.
Oh, I see that nose of yours
But not the dog I shall throw it to.
This is some minis token and I must take out the work!
There!
By heaven, that should be my handkerchief.
After her, after her!
Faith, I must. She'll rail in the streets else.
How shall I murder him, lago?
I would have him nine years a-killing.
A fine woman.
A fair woman.
A sweet woman.
Nay, you must forget that.
No. My heart is tumed to stone. I strilue it and it hurts my hand.
The world hath not a sweeter creature.
O, lago, the pity Of ii. la90
Ifyou are so fond over her iniquity...
Gel me some poison, lago, this night.
This night, lago.
Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed.
Even the bad she hath contaminated.
And for Cassie, let me be his undertaker.
Good, good. The justice of it pleases.
The duke and senators of Veni greet you.
How dost Lieutenant Cassie?
Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord an unkind breach.
I would do much to alone them for the love I bear to Cassie.
Devil!
I have not desenfd this.
May be the letter mov'd him,
For, as I think, they do command him home.
My lord, malue her amends. She weeps.
O, devil. Devil!
Out of my sight!
Sir, I obey the mandate and will return to Venice.
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate ll all in all sufficient?
Are his wits safe?
Alas, alas.
It is not honesty in me to speak what I have seen and known.
Do but go after and mark how he continues.
Let me see your eyes. Look in myfa.
What art thou?
Your wife, my lord.
Your true and loyal wife.
I cry you mercy, I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello!
- What is the matter, my lady? - He lled her whore.
o. 900d lago
What shall I do to win my lord again?
'Tis but his humour.
The business of the state does him of fence and he dost chide with you.
Weep not. All things shall be well.
Shall I go fetch your nightgown?
No.
Unpin me here.
How foolish are our minds.
My mother had a maid, she was in love
And he she loved proved mad and did forsake her.
She had a song of willow, and she died singing it.
That song tonight will not go from my mind.
Come, me. You talk.
J' The poor soul sat sighing
J' By a sycamore tree
J' Sing all a green willow J'
J' A hand on her bosom
J' A head on her knee
J' Sing willow, willow, willow, willow
must be my garland J'
Ifthou hast purpose, courage, valour, than this night show it.
I have no great devotion to the deed.
Fear nothing. I'll be at thy elbow.
Whether he kill Cassie
Or Cassie him or each do kill the other
Every way mam my gain.
Help! Ho!
Murder! Murder!
The voice of Cassie.
lago keeps his word.
O, brave lago.
O, my lieutenant, what villains have done this?
- Help me here! - That's one of them.
O, murderous slave.
O, damned lago.
O, inhuman dog.
This is the night that either makes me or fordoes me quite.
Put out the light, and then put out the light.
If I quench thee, thou ﬂaming minister
I n again thy former light restore should I repent me.
But on put out, thy light...
Will you me to bed, my lord?
- Have you prayed tonight, Desdemona? - Aye, my lord.
If you bethink yourself of any crime unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace
Solicit for it straight.
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit.
Then heaven have mercy on me.
The handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee, thou gav'sl to Cassie.
I never gave it him. Send for him hither.
- He has nfess'd. - What, my lord?
That he hath... used thee.
He will not say so,
No, his mouth is slopp'd.
Alas, he is belrayd and I undone.
Down, slmmpell
Kill me tomorrow. Lei me live tonight.
- Nay, if you strive... - But half an hour!
it is too late.
- My lord! - 'Tis Emilia.
If she me in, she'll sure speak to my wife.
MYWif6.Mywifel
What wife? I have no wife.
O, insupportablel
I do beseech you that I may speak with you.
Oh...
Come in, Emilia.
Falsely... falsely murdered.
O, lady, speak again.
Who hath done this deed?
Nobody.
I, myself.
Commend me to my kind lord.
Oh...
Farewell.
She is like a liar gone to burning hell.
'Twas I that killed her.
Cassie did tup her.
Ask thy husband else.
- My husband? - Aye. 'Twas he that told me first.
- My husband? - I say thy husband.
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest lago.
If he say so, may his pernicious soul rot half a grain a day.
Help! Help! Ho, help!
The Moor hath killed my mistress.
O monstrous act.
Tis pitiful; but yet lago knows
That she with Cassie hath the act of shame
A thousand times mmilted; Cassie nfess'd it.
And she did gratify his amorous works
With the recognisan and pledge of love
Which I first gave her. I saw it in his hand.
It was a handkerchief.
'Twill out. 'Twill oull
O, thou dull Moor.
That handkerchief thou speaks! on,
I found by fortune and did give my husband.
He begg'd of me to steal it.
Filth! Thou liesll
She was chaste.
She lov'd thee, cruel Moor.
Cold. Cold. my girl.
Even like thy chaslily.
If that thou bees! a devil, I nnet kill thee!
I... bleed, sir, but not kill'd.
This wrelch hath part nfess'd his villainy.
Dear general, I did never give you use.
I do believe it and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body?
Demand me nothing.
What you know, you know.
Soft, you. A word or two.
I have done the state some service, and they know it.
I pray you. in your letters
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate
Speak of them as they are.
Then must you speak
Of one that lov'd not wisely but too well.
Set you down this,
And say besides that in Aleppo on
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
Beat a Venetian and traduc'd the shite,
I took by the throat the circumcised dog
And smote him thus!
I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee -
No way but this
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.